LightEdge Solutions has turned on the juice at the SubTropolis Technology Center, a new data center campus housed completely within SubTropolis, the 5-million-square foot underground business complex in Kansas City operated by Hunt Midwest.

LightEdge Solutions, a cloud computing and colocation company, have invested $58 million in the 60,000 square foot fist phase of the technology center, which is expected to create 21 jobs.

“The opening of LightEdge’s new data center helps bolster Missouri’s reputation as a technology hub, and is another win for Kansas City,” said Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon. “An experienced talent pool and low-cost business environment makes the Show-Me State the best destination for growing high-tech companies and creating in-demand jobs.”

The SubTropolis facility is the latest example of the interest in underground data bunkers, a niche within the larger data center industry. Advocates for these data bunkers says they offer high security and advantages in cost and energy efficiency, particularly with cooling.

SubTropolis is the world’s largest underground business complex, with more than 5 million square feet leased to over 50 international, national, regional and local companies that employ more than 1,600 people.

“This is the perfect strategic alliance that allows both companies to leverage their core expertise to deliver a world-class data center operation,” said Ora Reynolds, president of Hunt Midwest Real Estate Development.

Here’s a look inside the new underground facility:

Inside of the LightEdge Solutions data center during the commissioning phase where racks and other systems are already in place. The limestone-fortified underground location is housed within the SubTropolis Technology Center, offering protection from natural disasters. (Photo: LightEdge)

Another view of the new data hall within the LightEdge facility. (Photo: LightEdge)

Get Daily Email News from DCK!

About the Author

Rich Miller is the founder and editor at large of Data Center Knowledge, and has been reporting on the data center sector since 2000. He has tracked the growing impact of high-density computing on the power and cooling of data centers, and the resulting push for improved energy efficiency in these facilities.

Related Stories

The data bunker industry is growing, as more customers seek out ultra-secure underground hosting for their IT operations. At last week's Data Center World conference, several experts discussed the advantages and challenges of underground data centers, and offered tips for evaluating a data bunker. Read More

A new data center in Kansas City is going underground, with support from two high-profile investors. LightEdge Solutions, which is owned by Qwest founder Phil Anschitz, will add a regional data center at SubTropolis, the underground business park operated by the Lamar Hunt family. Read More

Iron Mountain is entering the data center business in a bigger way. The company has announced plans to build and lease data centers, starting within the Underground, its 145-acre records storage facility located 220 feet underground in a former limestone mine in Pennsylvania. Read More

Hunt Midwest Real Estate Development will develop the first 40,000 square feet of SubTech, a secure underground data center within the company's SubTropolis business complex near Kansas City. Read More